MFVA Profiles - Brothers

Br. Bernard Mary

Status – Permanent Brother

Title – Community Secretary, Community Steward, and Council

Bio - Br. Bernard Mary, MFVA grew up in Atlanta, Georgia as a member of the Methodist Church. He attended Georgia State University and earned a degree in accounting. After working as an accountant for several years and attending church, he discovered the writings of the great Catholic spiritual writers. This interest led to his employment in the EWTN Accounting Department and conversion to the Catholic Faith. In 1992 he entered the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word and professed perpetual vows in 1998. Over the years, Br. Bernard has worked in community administration, formation staff and various EWTN studio production positions. He currently serves as the Community Secretary, Community Steward, MFVA Council member and Bookkeeper.

1. The Lord Jesus says to his disciples: I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. 2. If you had known me, you would also have known my Father and from now on you will know him and have seen him. 3. Philip says to him: Lord, show us the Father and it is enough for us. Jesus says to him: 4. Have I been with you for so long a time and you have not known me? Philip, whoever sees me, sees also my Father (Jn. 14:6-9).

5. Sacred Scripture says that the Father lives in inaccessible light (cf. 1 Tim. 6:16), and God is Spirit (Jn. 4:24) and, No one has ever seen God (Jn. 1:18). 6. Therefore he cannot be seen except in the Spirit since it is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh does not offer anything (Jn. 6:64). 7. But neither, inasmuch as he is equal to the Father...

The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (MFVA) is a Public Clerical Association of the Faithful, located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. They were founded in 1987 by Mother Angelica, who also founded the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The primary residence of the Friars is in Irondale, Alabama and is next door to EWTN. They also have residences in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where their Seminarians attend Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, and in Hanceville, Alabama, near the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The Friars' apostolate is to communicate the Catholic faith by word and example. It involves using the media: television, radio and the Internet, as well as publishing and conducting retreats...